Ms. Mitzie:  That route, of course, was/is through the beautiful
Shenandoah Valley and was known as the "Great Wagon Road" (also known
as the
"Philadelphia Wagon Road" and the "Valley Pike", now U.S. I-81). It
was a principale route from
PA, eastern NY, and MD south to the Carolinas, especially to the area
of Salisbury.

A drover is/was  anyone who "drove" animals from one place to another
for pay,
the animals usually being cattle and hogs sent to sale, railhead, or
to market.  It is said that by 1825 there may have been as many as
10,000 wagons and teams and herds of animals on the Wagon Road on any
given day.  Similarly U.S. Rt. 58 across Southern VA from Virginia
Beach area to Johnson City, TN and west to Kentucky (now I-64) was
used, though that was a more difficult route, hence saw less traffic
and fewer pioneer emigrants.  By 1795  present I-40 (old U.S. 70 from
Norfolk and that area,  west to Asheville, Nashville, Memphis and on
West) served equally.

As said, the "National Road" from the MD coast to Zanesville and
Columbus, OH and on to St. Louis (now I-70) was
similarly used, it and the Wagon Road having been in constant use for
the migration of hundreds of thousands of our ancestors who moved
west to settle the NW Territory, SW Territory, and the pioneer West.

A drover had a different task from that of a waggoner, though both
usually worked at both callings, the latter driving a wagon and team
for pay (in 1845 about $1.00 per day).  The drovers walked much of the
way - the more tiring task - yet were paid about the same.

You may
find it incredible to learn that many was the flock of turkeys and
geese that were driven up the Valley to market in the big cities, or
from central Ohio across old U.S. 40 to the railhead at Pittsburgh. v
How in the world one drove turkeys or geese a hundred miles plus, I
can not imagine.  One writer noted that when any single turkey decided
to sleep, it and all of its buddies did so at the same time and at
once, no matter WHERE they were or at what time of day.  Interesting
subjects, indeed.  Paul



Subject: drovers and wagons


In 1802 I have an ancestor in Frederick Co, VA who borrowed
money using the following items as collateral: " a wagon and
team consisting of four horses with geers consisting of five
pair and a fifth chair (or pair), Bearskins, also, a
jackscrew and tent (or ten) bags" for four hundred and fifty
dollars."

A researcher on another list says this means he was a drover
and probably "drove" up the valley and into PA and then west
to Ohio.  (It seems to me if this pioneer who lived west of
Winchester...is driving anything... would have taken the
route that is now Rt. 50 over to Ohio.  It is a lot shorter.)

My feelings are...drover or not, in this time frame he
probably would have used his team and wagon to take valley
products to points east through MD...the points being
Alexandria or perhaps Baltimore.

In the 1850 census his grandson's occupation is listed as
an "waggoner".

Can anyone give us some background on drovers and waggoners
in the early to mid 1800s in the Shenandoah Valley?
Thanks,
Mitzie

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